Information About

Calpers





CALPERS SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

Being one of the largest owners in the world, CalPERS has attempted to use this power to change the way certain things are done in business. For example:

  • Demanding companies disclose their Y2k readiness

  • Calling on companies which operate in offshore havens to repatriate to the United States

  • Calling for reform in Executive Compensation , especially Golden Parachute s

  • Suing the NYSE over allegations that their specialists (floor workers) engage in practices which hurt investors



PRAISE AND CRITICISM


CalPERS has been both praised and criticized by some for its shareholder activism. Many feel that the organization has well represented the will of the employees whose pensions it manages by pushing for a wide array of causes, ranging from greater fiscal responsibility to social justice. Some others argue that this unduly interferes with business, is backed by a political agenda (citing the dominance of Democrats on CalPERS' board - which could be said to counterbalance a Republican agenda to not interfere with business at the potentially severe environmental, social and quality-of-life costs), and further encourages the belief that California is "anti-business". The recent director of CalPERS, Sean Harrigan, was removed from his position in December 2004, amid charges that his departure was politically motivated and done at the bidding of powerful corporate lobbyists.